Grim, I would say the same about your post.
As far as i am aware, the only ones who have to pay for interview and sim asesmant are the cadets. Jar 25 and expeirenced captains do not pay any more. Experienced captains are also offered type rating courses paid for by the company. They also get paid from day 1. Yes, the rejection rate was 80% not that long ago. As the market is cooling down, i expect it may even be higher now.
As for as cadets go, i dont know the figure, i agree it is probably nothing like 80% as they pay for it all themselves. They are probably more like an 80% success rate, but the risk is all theirs. If they don't make the grade, they can be choped at any time with no loss to the company. Bad i know, but the choice is theirs.
The majority of new recruits just now seem to be cadets, most new captains internal promotions.